Humankind thrives on stories, which from the beginning of time have helped us interpret the world around us. Myths may seem fantastical, but have generally evolved to explain the past, often with a basis rooted in fact. Actual happenings are embellished and added to, passed on from person to person, down the generations, to help them make sense of the present.

History is an attempt to uncover and create a factual account of the past. The history of the UAE can be traced back to the Neolithic age. How is its history being uncovered and documented? If myth and history represent different ways of looking at the past, what part can legend and myth play in uncovering our history? Where does fact meets fiction, and what is the responsibility of historians in ensuring that the true interpretation of events is portrayed?